|
Selections in Volume I:
Horror and the supernatural occupied Bierce to an inordinant extent, as did the specter of sudden death. THE MOONLIT ROAD is one of the most unforgettable ghost stories ever written. BEYOND THE WALL, an adventure at Brownville and an inhabitant of carcosa are all wonderful examples of his storytelling genius. AN OCCURANCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE draws on Bierce’s war experiences and the ever present reality of sudden death, which hung heavily about him.
Masterpieces of this genre also include ONE OF THE MISSING, PARKER ADDISON and A BAFFLED AMBUSCADE.
Ambrose Gwinett Bierce, (1842–1914?), was the youngest child in a family of eight born on a primitive farm in Meigs County, Ohio. He joined the Union army as a private and distinguished himself in many engagements throughout the War Between the States, including Shiloh. By war’s end, he had been commissioned a major. But Bierce despised war and grew to see in it nothing but pain and wasted lives. He became known as “Bitter Bierce” and settled in San Francisco where he soon drifted into a writing career. A troubled man, Bierce’s style is marked by vivid description, grim situations, and sardonic twists of fate. His short stories are among the very best in American literature. Disappearing into Mexico in 1913, he was never seen again.
|
|
|
